Introduction:
Knee pain due to arthritis is a common issue, especially among the mature population of Naples, Fort Myers and all of Southwest Florida. It often presents as pain and stiffness in the knee, which can limit mobility and affect daily activities. Arthritis in the knee typically causes inflammation, joint space narrowing, and cartilage degeneration. Traditional treatments involve anti-inflammatory medications or steroid injections, which may provide short-term relief but come with potential side effects.
Fortunately, Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) injections have emerged as a safe and effective treatment for knee pain. PRP is a solution of concentrated platelets made from the patient’s blood. These platelets are packed with bioactive proteins that can decrease pain, reduce inflammation, and stimulate tissue regeneration. PRP is a natural treatment that has the potential to improve the health and function of the knee. Studies have shown that PRP treatments can provide long-term benefits for patients with knee arthritis pain, offering a promising alternative to conventional treatments.
The Study:
In 2019, the researchers published the results of a randomized controlled trial in the world journal of orthopedics. 95 patients with chronic knee pain were enrolled in the study. Thirty-one subjects received a single injection of platelet rich plasma (PRP), 33 subjects received two injections of PRP at an interval of 3 weeks, and 31 subjects received three injections of hyaluronic acid at 1-week intervals. After the injections, their knee pain and function were assessed regularly for 3 months. Disability questionnaires were used to assess how badly their function was affected by knee pain like knee pain from arthritis.
The Results:
All 3 groups of patients achieved significant pain relief, stiffness relief, and improved function. The PRP groups showed significantly better improvement and the group with the highest levels of symptom relief and improvement in function was the group that received 2 PRP injections. There were no complications during the course of the study.
Comparison of the pain score indices between the three intervention groups at baseline and subsequent follow-ups. Negative shows a benefit from pre-treatment values.
Comparison of the physical function score indices between the three intervention groups at baseline and subsequent follow-ups. Negative shows a benefit from pre-treatment values.
Conclusion:
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) injections are a safe and effective treatment for knee arthritis. PRP can provide long-term pain relief and improve function in patients with chronic knee pain. Unlike steroids, PRP does not have negative side effects such as increased blood sugar, muscle and bone loss, hormonal imbalance, anxiety, and insomnia. PRP is also more effective than hyaluronic acid injections for knee pain. PRP has powerful anti-inflammatory and regenerative properties that can significantly enhance the health and function of the knee, making it an excellent option for those seeking to manage knee pain naturally and effectively.
References:
- Tavassoli M, Janmohammadi N, Hosseini A, Khafri S, Esmaeilnejad-Ganji SM. Single- and double-dose of platelet-rich plasma versus hyaluronic acid for treatment of knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled trial. World J Orthop. 2019 Sep 18;10(9):310-326. doi: 10.5312/wjo.v10.i9.310. PMID: 31572668; PMCID: PMC6766465.
